Spring-brace for vehicles



(No Model.)

0. W. SALADEE.

SPRING BRAOE FOR VEHICLES.

Patented Oct. 31, 18821 UNITED STATES CYRUS IV. SALADEE, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

SPRlNG-BRACE FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,647, dated October 31, 1882,

Application filed September 9, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRUS WV. SALADEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Torrington, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand usetul Improvements inVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to road-wagons in which the body-supporting springs are arranged over front and rear axles connected by rigid perches; and it consists in the application of a central longitudinally-arranged supplemental spring, having its inner or heavier end rigidly secured to the bottom of the body and the other'end' secured to the frame, whereby to assistin carrying the rear halt of the body, as well as to prevent its longitudinal movement, as hereinalter more fully set forth.

My invention is applicable to side-bar, end elliptic, or semi-elliptic end-spring vehicles. The rear end of the body in all two-passenger vehicles is required to carry agreater load than the front, as the seat is back of the center. Hence the rear spring is ordinarily made heavier and stiffer, so that at one end of the vehicle there is a spring more rigid in its ac tion and motion than at the other. This prevents the ease of motion that would result if both springs were alike. To overcome thisdifticulty,Iuse front and back springs of like dimensions, or nearly so, and provide a supplemental spring at the rear.

The old elliptic-spring wagon, as now generally made, lacks a veryimportant provision, whereby to prevent undue strain, which the longitudinal thrust of the body imposes upon the springs. My invention prevents this also, and is thus a valuable improvement upon the ordinary end elliptic-spring buggy, retaining all that is of value in the old structure and embod ying a new feature.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an end-elliptic spring-buggy, showing the supplemental spring E in position; and Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same.

A represents the body; L L, the axles; B, the body-loops; C, the spring-bars; D, the cross-bars framed into the sides of the body; E, the supplemental spring, attached to cross bars D D by bolts F F at one end and at the other to a shackle, J. H II are the elliptic end springs, supporting the body. I I are the perches connecting the axles. J is the shackle, which may beattachcd either to the rear spring or to the axle, and receives the rear end of the supplemental spring E. K K are the axlebraces, extending to the perches I.

The supplemental spring E is of such form as to admit of a vertical movement of the body without a link motion at Jthat is to say, when the spring begins to straighten under pressure the expansion or elongation is taken up at N, where the curve will become greater in proportion as the spring is straightened at P, so that the one curve accommodates itself to thatof the other. As the one is straightened the other is increased.

It will be understood that the supplemental spring must be made with a carrying capacity equal to the additional weight which the rear half of the body is to carry, while the end springs, C C, are substantially alike, and that the supplemental spring will prevent any forward or backward movement ofthe body when the vehicle is suddenly started or stopped, and thus relieve the end springs of all torsional strain.

In a side-bar wagon the supplemental spring is attached to the bottom of the body and rear axle or spring in substantially the same manner as here shown and described.

I am aware thata central longitudinally-arranged supplemental spring, in combination with a rigid frame-gear, is not new, as I invented and patented this feature by Letters Patent No. 148,504, March 10, 1874; but in such application of the spring it was limited to its combination with semi -elliptic side springs.

In my patentNo. 197,669, November27, 1877, I show a central longitudinal spring extending from axle to axle, combined with either side orend supporting-springs; but experience in the manufacture of these wagons has deminonstrated the fact that the front half of the parts as much supplemental strength to the front as to the rear spring, or nearly so. My present invention overcomes this defect and gives the requisite carrying capacity and mo I 4 I 1 central spr1ng,extend1ng from axle to axle, im-

tion to the rear end of the vehicle without in- In testimony whereoflhave signed my name creasing the spring capacity of the front end. to this specification in the presence of two sub- I claimscribing Witnesses. In a road-wagon having end supportingy 5 springs over the front and rear axles, con- CYRUS \V. SALADEE.

nected by rigid perches a central longitudinally-arranged supplemental body-supporting Witnesses: spring, having its inner end rigidly secured CHARLES E. FOSTER, to the bottom of the body and the other end A. E. T. HANSMANN. r

10 secured to the frame, substantially as set forth. 

